People had perished to ferry him across the Ashen Realm. All of whom were likely powerful warriors. Why would they sacrifice themselves like that? What was Cirayus fleeing from?
The Order’s Acira came into view, along with a half dozen black-clothed forms, arranged neatly on the ground.
Vir jumped off the giant’s shoulder and knelt next to Badal.
“Badal. Badal! You alright?”
The demon’s eyes slowly opened. “What happened? Vir? Why are you here? I told you to escape!”
Then he noticed Cirayus, and he shot up in a panic. “You!”
“It’s alright, Badal. He, uh… he’s actually on our side.”
“Did you hit your head? He tried to kill you! He attacked us!”
“What was I to do? You wouldn’t listen when I told you I meant no harm,” Cirayus said with a shrug, rocking Maiya, who remained perched on his shoulder.
“Who would believe such a blatant lie!” Badal fired back.
“It’s true. He was testing me, believe it or not,” Vir said. “He’s… well, I’m not sure yet, but he’s not an enemy, at least.”
“Accept my apologies for rendering your group unconscious,” Cirayus said, bowing his head and clasping two fists in two palms.
“This is difficult to accept,” Badal replied slowly.
Vir laughed. “Believe me, you don’t even know the half of it.”
One by one, Badal’s group woke up. Vir feared he’d have to repeat his explanation again and again, but a single order from Badal silenced any reservations they had, proving just what consummate professionals they all were.
Meanwhile Maiya had sauntered off, returning with a handful of the dead mercenaries’ orbs, grinning. “Can’t expect a poor village girl to let such wealth go to waste, can you?”
Vir rolled his eyes. Despite all her wealth, the villager-hoarding mentality still hadn’t left her.
“Does this mean you’ll be alright?” Badal asked after ensuring his forces were all uninjured. He kept a wary eye on Cirayus the entire time, as did his Order forces.
“I think I will be,” Vir said. “Think I might be better than ever, actually.”
“That is both a surprise and a relief. I admit, I understand none of this, but it’s not my business to pry. All I ask is you return safely to us one day, brother. Whether it be a week from now, or a decade. You will always have a home here.”
“Thanks, Badal. Truly. I’ll never forget what the Order’s done for me. And I do intend to return,” Vir said, locking eyes with Maiya. “I swear it.”
“Then I shall be off. We’ve another raid tonight, and the men could use a rest. More brothers and sisters to liberate.”
“May Yuma be with you,” Vir said as Badal mounted his Acira.
“May all the gods be with you, friend. Though I fear no amount of blessings will lessen your hardship,” he replied.
The Order Acira took to the skies, their scaly black wings flapping heavily. Then they were gone, the forest’s peaceful calmness reasserting itself as birds chirped and chipmunks poked their heads out of the ground. Few would guess a fierce battle raged here just minutes earlier.
Cirayus sat down and cracked his neck.
He really enjoys that, doesn’t he? Vir thought it was an intimidation tactic at first, but now understood it to be more of a habit. Perhaps one that was centuries old. Though Cirayus looked like the sort of demon terror who might raze villages and eat babies, Vir wondered whether that was merely a carefully crafted facade. Cirayus was powerful—obscenely powerful—but he’d not only spared Badal’s fighters, he hadn’t even injured Vir, let alone Maiya. All his taunts had been bravado, nothing more.
And yet, he didn’t bat an eye when he caved in that mejai’s head. The question is… what does he want from me?
“This place should be safe enough, shouldn’t it?” Vir asked. “We’re a ways away from where you fought that mejai.”
“Well, that depends. What would you wish to know?”
“Everything,” Vir said, staring up into the giant’s eyes.
“Everything!” Cirayus replied, laughing. “How many days do you have, lad?”
“As many as it takes.”
“Aye. But we do not. That mejai I killed was sent by a certain Hiranyan princess. When he fails to check in, she’ll no doubt send more forces. They communicate daily through a bizarre orb.”
“Honestly, I can’t believe they sent you,” Vir said. “I didn’t think they’d venture beyond their borders like this.”
“They sent a giant demon and a mejai with no Hiranyan markings,” Maiya said. “Only Cirayus might’ve betrayed the truth if captured, but I suppose the mejai figured the subjugation collar would’ve prevented that from ever happening.”
“The man was a fool,” Cirayus scoffed. “Not only did he consider me an ally, he placed far too much faith in his Artifact. His overconfidence was his undoing. But I digress. That princess is not the type to give up, lad. She’ll send more forces, mark my words.”
Maiya nodded. “I can see that. I thought she’d hesitate since we’re in Kin’jal, but, eh, who am I kidding? That princess wouldn’t blink an eye before sending forces. This time, she might even send more of Hiranya’s military.”
“We can crush all who come our way, but I’d rather avoid the attention,” Cirayus said. “Besides, lingering in this realm any longer serves no purpose.”
“What do you suggest?” Vir asked, dreading the answer.
“Your name is Maiya, yes?” Cirayus asked. “Know any safe places nearby, lass?”
Maiya regarded the giant slyly. “Why’d you think I would know?”
“You seem like you’ve a solid head on those shoulders. I figured you’d have some relevant information. Unlike young Ekavir over here.”
“Hey!” Vir bristled but found himself unable to retort. It was true—Maiya had forged far more connections and had a much better grasp of the geography than he did. Not to mention any clandestine Kin’jal outposts only the princess’ confidante might know of.
“Kin’jal maintains several safe houses in Matali lands. The nearest one should only be an hour from here, with how fast you travel.”
“Guide me,” Cirayus said, scooping them up.
Maiya looked around to orient herself, then pointed north. “That way.”
The safe house wasn’t so much of a house as an underground cellar, its entrance camouflaged so perfectly by vegetation that it would be utterly impossible to find. Unless, of course, one knew to look for the signposts that identified it.
Maiya did, but even then, it still took an hour to locate.
Maiya hopped lightly onto the ground and dusted off her armored skirt, opening the trapdoor.
“Might be a tight fit for you, Cirayus.”
The giant waved away her concern. “I’ve spent the last sixteen years cooped up in a jail cell barely large enough for a regular human. I can deal with short ceilings.”
Vir flared Prana Vision, finding nothing of note inside. “Looks safe,” he said, entering first.
There wasn’t much—a table, a couple of chairs, and a rudimentary bed along the far wall. Next to the table was a shelf with some furled maps, dried food and jugs of water, and a couple of mid-grade steel talwars and daggers. The barest essentials for what a Kin’jal spy might need if they ever found themselves in hot water.
“Not even a single orb in here,” Maiya muttered, lighting up her Magic Lamp, casting its warm glow upon the room.
Vir and Maiya took a chair, and Maiya brought hers close beside him. Closer than usual, he noticed. Cirayus sat cross-legged upon the floor. Thanks to the giant’s height, he came nearly to their eye level.
“We should be safe enough here, for the time being.”
Vir took a deep breath. This was the moment he’d waited his entire life for. The moment when he’d finally learn the truth of who he was. “Let’s start with how I ended up here. Why did you flee the Demon Realm? Why’d you risk everything to bring me across the Ash?”